Cardinals Designate Jared Shuster for Assignment After Long Relief Appearance

The St. Louis Cardinals designated left-hander Jared Shuster for assignment on Tuesday to make room for right-hander Ryan Fernandez, who was recalled from Triple-A Memphis. Shuster, 27, was just added to the 40-man roster last week and made two appearances for the club, most recently throwing three innings in a critical relief role. His designation leaves the Cardinals with 39 players on the active 40-man roster.

Shuster entered the game after starter Andre Pallante allowed seven runs in five innings against the Boston Red Sox. George Soriano worked one inning before Shuster took over, throwing 50 pitches over three innings and allowing two runs. His performance was effective enough to keep the game manageable, but the move to DFA him suggests the team is looking ahead rather than holding onto a pitcher with limited long-term upside.

Selected 25th overall by the Atlanta Braves in the 2020 draft, Shuster was once considered a top prospect. However, his major league career has been inconsistent. He was traded to the Chicago White Sox in November 2023 as part of the deal that sent Aaron Bummer to Atlanta. After being claimed off waivers by the Oakland Athletics in 2024, Shuster was outrighted off the roster at season’s end and later signed a minor league deal with the Cardinals.

In 145 1/3 career major league innings, Shuster has posted a 5.26 ERA, with a 15.3% strikeout rate and a 10.2% walk rate. His 36.7% ground ball rate is below average for a left-hander and has contributed to his overall struggles. These numbers have made it difficult for him to secure a consistent role in the majors.

Shuster has now exhausted all three of his remaining minor league options, which limits the Cardinals’ ability to send him back to the minors without exposing him to waivers. The team has 10 days to trade him, release him, or place him on waivers. If another club claims him, they will take on a player with under two years of service time who has not yet qualified for arbitration. If he is waived again and not claimed, Shuster could elect free agency due to a prior outright.

The Cardinals will need to decide quickly how to handle Shuster's roster spot. With the team looking to solidify its bullpen, the move could open the door for a trade or the addition of another arm ahead of the trade deadline. Shuster’s next move will be determined within the next week.